1,500 OF MARILYN MONROE'S BELONGINGS TO BE AUCTIONED

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

The sweater is frumpy and spotted with stains. The platform shoes have seen better days. Nevertheless, some people still consider them relics. Christie's has put 20 items once owned by Marilyn Monroe in a traveling exhibition to promote its auction of Monroe memorabilia in New York on Oct. 27 and 28.

Monroe, who died of a drug overdose in 1962, left most of her estate to acting coach Lee Strasberg. Strasberg's widow, Anna, has contracted with Christie's to auction more than 1,500 of Monroe's belongings.

The small touring collection has been showed in New York, Los Angeles and now St. Petersburg, Fla. Stops in London and then Paris also are planned.

"One of the reasons Marilyn's myth endures is that despite the apparent glamor of her life, people perceive her as the salt of the earth," said Amy Wexler, who is in charge of special projects and tours for Christie's. "People identify with her heartache and tragedy."